I suppose a tonne or two. Would that fit in a chest freezer?
A tonne would be 40 sacks-worth. I don't know - it's one of those visio-spatial puzzles that I can't do.
No it wouldn't. A tonne of spuds is roughly 5'x5'x5'. I realise that grain's more dense but it's not going to fit in a freezer unless it's a seriously big one.
Also (and this is from a position of ignorance about grain) storing spuds needs decent ventilation around them. Is grain going to keep OK in something airtight like a freezer or are nasty anaerobic things going to start happening?
don't think so.
remember reading about recreating ancient grain storage methods, including clay lined holes in the ground. they would get some germination on the outer layer that would create anaerobic conditions in the rest of the store, that would keep the rest sound.
They were quite rigid but I had to actually cut the top off to make them serviceable and quite a bit of the thickened rim was lost in the process.
We did have one for corn, well originally it had molasses in, anyway, the best use for was as a manhole bottom, concreted in place with the manhole rings on top.
I suppose a tonne or two. Would that fit in a chest freezer?
A tonne would be 40 sacks-worth. I don't know - it's one of those visio-spatial puzzles that I can't do.
No it wouldn't. A tonne of spuds is roughly 5'x5'x5'. I realise that grain's more dense but it's not going to fit in a freezer unless it's a seriously big one.
Also (and this is from a position of ignorance about grain) storing spuds needs decent ventilation around them. Is grain going to keep OK in something airtight like a freezer or are nasty anaerobic things going to start happening?
don't think so.
remember reading about recreating ancient grain storage methods, including clay lined holes in the ground. they would get some germination on the outer layer that would create anaerobic conditions in the rest of the store, that would keep the rest sound.
I have a friend in France who stores his bulk grain in old 10-cubic-foot-sized chest freezers. He has never had problems with the grain going manky.
I assume they are undercover? I was thinking of outdoor storage, but if it is indoor then a large bin/hopper could be had much cheaper than an outdoor one.
windyridge
Joined: 03 Oct 2010 Posts: 2732 Location: Up the garden from Henry
That would certainly make life a lot easier for me. I'll have to see if I can get some.
I'm in the process of making a cold smoker out of two steel 45 gallon oil drums. The design calls for the two of them to be stood one on top of the other with the steel band ( not the West Indian type) holding them in place. After months of trying to lay my hands on some, I finally got one just the other day but the other is still proving to be elusive. Apparently, there a �12.00 deposit to be claimed back on such oil drums these days.
Might be able to get food quality drums for �6 each.. that is what I paid for mine
What sort of saving do you think you could make Chez? Can you buy and collect it locally?
Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9891 Location: Devon, uk
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 11 10:18 am Post subject:
Mr Cig just came home from a reclaim/recycling place with three little clip top drums and one huge steal drum, also clip top - reckon ideal for storing grain.
huge steal drum is size of oil drum cost 7 quid.
Green Rosie
Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 10498 Location: Calvados, France
Posted: Fri Jun 10, 11 11:08 am Post subject:
We've just found a farmer who will sell us wheat at half the price of what we buy it in the ag. merchants so are now thinking about storage. We do have an old chest freezer and I'll be scouring leboncoin (bit like ebay but a lot easier to use as long as you don't mind speaking French) for other suitable containers.
My Mum had an old wooden piano packing box for storing the horse's oats. It wasn't totally mouse-proof though as I found out when I opened it up one day and as I leant over to prop up the lid a mouse ran out of it and down my cleavage. Not sure who was more traumatised - the mouse or me
I use the blue plastic barrels ( 45 gallon ) and use the clip on lids. I can get 4 to 5 cwt in each one. I'll be fetching half a ton of wheat myself next week.